DAMASCUS/ ABU DHABI: The Arab Inter-parliamentary Union (AIPU) condemned as "provocative" the recent visit by top Iranian officials to the UAE's Abu Musa Island.

The pan-Arab organization, in a press release, described last week's visit as a flagrant violation of the UAE's sovereignty over its three islands Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb and as a reason for tension in the Arabian Gulf region.

AIPU said it threw its full weight behind the UAE's full and legitimate right to the three islands and behind any peaceful measures the UAE will take to restore sovereignty on its occupied islands.

The Iranian government has been persistent on fuelling the issue of the UAE's three islands which are still under Iranian occupation. Iran's provocation has been manifested by statements by Iranian officials who claim these belong to Iran as well as by the recent visits to the islands by top Iranian officials, according to AIPU's release.

The pan-Arab parliamentary body demanded "Iran end its occupation of these islands and respond to the serious and sincere calls by the UAE to find a peaceful and just solution to the issue of the three island through negotiations or by taking it to the International Court of Justice." AIPU is an Arab parliamentary organization composed of parliamentary groups representing Arab Parliaments. It was born in the wake of the 1973 Arab-Israeli October War which promoted an atmosphere of Arab solidarity and Arab joint action and encouraged inter-Arab cooperation through political, professional and other institutions.

WAM/MMYS